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If Jesus is God, why does the Bible talk about Him praying to God?

Since the Bible affirms that Jesus is God, it is often perplexing to note that Jesus addresses God in prayer. The answer to this, as well as to all references to Jesus as being tired or hungry, weeping, lacking knowledge, etc., is that Jesus was a true man, as well as God.

The second Person of the Trinity, God the Son, took upon Himself complete humanity, except for our sinful nature, when He was conceived in Mary. He is described by theologians as one Divine Person having two natures, divine and human—the God-man.

Passages of Scripture which describe Jesus' limitations are referring to His humanity. He lived His life as a true man, depending upon His heavenly Father day by day, just as we are expected to do. Many believe that even His miracles and supernatural knowledge were enabled by the Holy Spirit, not accomplished by switching back and forth between His divine and human natures.

When Jesus cried from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He was expressing from His human consciousness the terrible sense of being separated from His heavenly Father as He suffered the penalty for the world's sin. He, of course, with respect to His divine nature, could not suffer or die. In all of this great mystery, we have only glimmers of truth which is beyond human comprehension.

 

3 Comments

romadi says 8.4.2012, 07:26 a.m.

dave you came up with an important point. 1 cor. 15: 24 is also one of the verses that totaly disprove trinity.

b says 4.21.2011, 02:50 a.m.

This is a bit of a confusing matter. But like it's stated above, Jesus was also man. The God-man. The human part of Him needed God as we all do, since we are human and humans are in need of God. The human part of Jesus was not the God part, so of course He would refer to God as God while praying to Him as Man. That being said, Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity: God the Son. Being first is God the Father and third, God the Holy Spirit. Since this isn't comprehendible to humans, this is where we have faith in Him and just simply believe that what He says is true. We'll have our answers the day we come face to face with the One and only God. Until that day i urge you to have complete faith in Him who created us, saved us, and to this day, guides us. Have no doubts and though it may be hard, just believe and have faith!

Dave says 3.4.2011, 9:21 p.m.

How then do you explain Jesus's words at Rev 3:12 calling the Father his God if Jesus is God?Even in heaven Jesus is shown to be in subjection to the Father.

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